Travelling with Disability or Active Illness

Learn how to empower travelers overwhelmed by health concerns to confidently say “YES” to travel opportunities, make memories, and enjoy a vibrant lifestyle!

Dr. Andrea L. Leschak
Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist
Patient Advocate and Executive Health Coach
Founder & CEO Wayfinder Advantage

Dr. Andrea Media Sheet Travel Health.pdf 

Questions Asked

• "Hello! Thank you for presenting this topic.  My husband has 
• ""Long COVID"" and as a result he is on a high amount of oxygen and doesn't qualify for a portable concentrator.  As a result, we would have to take a huge amount of oxygen bottles in the car which isn't realistic.  Any suggestions?  We can't go away more than overnight.  I think it would be good for his mental well-being if we could travel. Thanks!"
• I am looking for websites for short term rentals that let you sort by walk in showers and elevators to condo floor.  There used to be a site like that for Paris but it is no longer around.  I don't think you can get this on VRBO or AirBNB.  Others might want an array of disability "sorts".   Wheelchair accessible can have features (like low closet rods) that are difficult for others.
• Are there Tour groups for people with wheel chairs or roller walkers?
• Not really a question but pls focus on how the handicapped handles travel and not so much on how to manage a handicapped person.  Thanks!
• Are there travel agencies that specialize in handicapped travel?
• Hi Andrea, do you provide a guide or pamphlet that has a checklist of things that one with various illnesses can use help them as they prepare for their trip?

Chat Transcript

12:07:13     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : Thank you Steve and Dr. W. I took my parents to Japan in ‘19. I backpack a lot and know their quirks so the entrusted me in facilitating, guiding and planning. I was surprised at which one had the most difficulty getting around because there was a lot of walking involved. Hint it wasnt the one who uses a cane and for their disability it was the one who would usually lap me on walks. And of course a lot has changed since. Catherine Narro Sencura Homecare catherine@sencura.com

12:07:39     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : Thank you Dr. Leschak

12:07:52     From  Peggye Lassiter : Hi.  I am a retired community health nurse.  I have some difficulty walking long stretches.  Doing PT but progress is slow.

12:14:02     From  Ellen Davis : Andrea & Steve, this is such and important topic and I appreciate the personal story.

Here is my information if anyone would like to speak about different types of insurance coverage, even international medical coverage. 

Ellen Davis, CLTC

President

Life Health Home Insurance Group, LLC

Tel: 301-728-5505

Email: edavis@LifeHealthHome.com  

Web: www.LifeHealthHome.com   

Life Happens and we’re here to help you prepare for it ©

Specializing in Life Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance, Disability, Annuities, Medicare Supplement, Health Insurance, and more in MD, DC, VA, DE, PA, NJ, FL & IL.

12:14:13     From  Alice FISHER   to   Hosts and panelists : I know  this event will be very valuable for a number of my age mates…….I see it’s being recorded, will it be possible for me to run it for a group?

12:16:30     From  Kelly Lambert : It helps people remain engaged in the world and have some fun... also, stay connected with family!

12:16:44     From  Glenna Crooks : 1) enrichment, 2) cultural experiences, 3) connect with family and friends.

12:16:52     From  Steve Lessels   to   Hosts and panelists : To open new horizons and meet people.

12:16:55     From  Erin Kershaw   to   Hosts and panelists : Get a break from everyday responsibilities and regain perspective.

12:17:15     From  Ellen Davis : In our family traveling allows us to try new foods, meet new people and see places & sites that we've learned about or we want to learn about.

12:17:18     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : I love being immersed, hanging with locals eating well, sometimes as a guest in a home, seeing nature and architecture

12:18:34     From  Michelle Amber   to   Hosts and panelists : My husband is in assisted living and is getting long term care insurance coverage.  Would that coverage be at risk if we take a vacation?

12:19:33     From  Paula Currence : Make new memories with the ones we love.

12:19:36     From  Suzanne Davis : I am senior care consultant with my background as a nursing home administrator.  I'm not "old", pushing 60, and suffer with failed back fusion syndrome (fusions in 16 months) that have left me managing severe chronic pain along with Coccydinia.  I live in Houston, my son is in LA, my Stepson, DIL and grand daughter are in Seattle. The thought of traveling that distance, is just a "hard no way" am I going to suffer through the journey to get to them!  Now my Step daughter and SIL with grand daughters who live here, are moving to Michigan!  Ugh!  How to I get my head to open up to trying to travel long distances in pain.

12:23:43     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : So different for everyone

12:24:13     From  Emily Shewmaker : Good Afternoon Everyone, Andrea I love how you have taken a personal experience and incorporated it into your practice.

12:25:18     From  Alice FISHER   to   Hosts and panelists : “The dignity of risk”

12:31:22     From  Emily Shewmaker   to   Hosts and panelists : Hi Andrea,  I would love to connect with you. I am currently providing in-home vaccination services through my company Vaccine Valet.  I am in the beginning stages of preparing for the BCGP as well as adding medication reconciliation, education and pillbox fills to my practice.  My email is emily@vaccinevalet.com.

12:34:18     From  Wes Morrison : One thing in preparing for travel is to find out where the  English speaking hospital is located and maybe have a sheet with you on conditions you have  using google translate for the language of where you are going

12:34:59     From  Ellen Davis : Andrea, that was great problem solving on the spot.

12:35:26     From  Paula Currence : Thank you!

12:37:51     From  Wes Morrison : For going to beach there are wheelchairs with balloon  tires many beach you could rent one     unlike  regular wheelchair     https://wheeleez.com/

12:40:03     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : https://wheeltheworld.com/ is one option

12:43:20     From  Kelly Lambert : My stepfather used to have to obtain a letter from his doctor (and have it translated into Spanish, as well) to explain what a C-Pap machine was! He and my mother experienced so much hassle with that when travelling to third world countries.

12:44:27     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : Ty Steve

12:45:19     From  Catherine Narro   to   Hosts and panelists : Dad uses to poles now

12:45:38     From  Glenna Crooks : Lesson learned the hard way. Developed a bad back spasm on the last day of a week in FL to move my Mom to assisted living and getting her house ready for sale. Shipped luggage home (that was a great service), but had a small carry on. I bumped up to First Class to be able to put the bag under the seat in front of me. However, there was some kind of mechanicals there and no room at all. My good luck, some nice other passenger lifted the bag for me into the overhead. Taught me that it always pays to call ahead. Oh, and I had my first ride through the airport in a wheelchair. Loved that, no wait at security!

12:46:43     From  Burke Dillon : I found India surprisingly easy as someone on a wheelchair.  People are amazingly helpful and you can hire people to help.  I had the wheel chair pusher who had pushed Steven Hawking.  Great stories.

12:48:07     From  Bonnie Davey   to   Hosts and panelists : I also can’t stand for too long or walk long distances. I have been using the wheelchair services the airlines offer. Has gotten me to the next gate on time!

12:50:43     From  Peggye Lassiter : Thanks; good points.

12:53:35     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : ANDREA L. LESCHAK  919-364-3411

andrea@wayfinderadvant

age.com

www.wayfinderadvantage.

com

12:55:24     From  Erin Kershaw : Aging Life Care Association (www.aginglifecare.org)

12:56:28     From  Suzanne Davis : I am a member of the Aging Life Care Association, ALCA, they have care managers listed throughout the US. That may be a good resource for folks.  Care managers help in many ways and certainly are advocates for the client.

13:00:30     From  Ellen Davis : Andrea, you are correct, evacuation coverage is not costly, nor is international medical coverage. Used alongside your current in US health insurance can really help lower your overall costs if something happens. Anything from a head cold to medical flights back to the US.

13:00:50     From  Burke Dillon : I have an apnea machine.  I got a medical red cross symbol and sewed it on a ribbon and tied it to my carry on.  It definitely helps.

13:01:36     From  Shauna Main : Used AAA to help set up wheelchair transport at airports and used dialysis. guest services to set up transient treatment chairs and networks on west coast to help get Covid test drive thru appts 3 days ahead of each of the 6 centers

13:03:49     From  Alice FISHER   to   Hosts and panelists : Sorry have to go,,  thanks so much

13:04:16     From  Wendy Pachter : Wheelchair svc @airport left me @a gate that closed and moved.  I was stuck and missed my flight.  Will not do that again w/out someone I know

13:05:22     From  Erin Kershaw   to   Hosts and panelists : Great idea to get a travel provider on a webinar

13:05:35     From  Michelle Amber   to   Hosts and panelists : didn’t answer my question on long term care insurance being at risk

13:05:47     From  Susan Albert : I would love info on traveling with grandchildren.

13:08:30     From  Erin Kershaw   to   Hosts and panelists : Great presentation, thank you

13:08:34     From  Bonnie Davey   to   Hosts and panelists : Thank you!